Store service apparatus



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

' J. WHITTEMORE. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

No. 444,680. Patented Jan. 13, 1891.

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(No Model.) 3 Sneets-Sleet 24 J. WHITTEMORE.

'STORE SERVIGE APPABATUS. i No. 444,680. Patented Jan. 13,1891.

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Patented Jan. 13, 1891.

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(No Model.)

-m fi m I second, in the Construction of the cash-regis- UNITED STATESJAMES KVHITTEMORE, OF DETROIT,

SPRAGUE & SON,

STORE-SERVlC PATENT OFFICE.

E APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Ne. 4444380, dated January13, 1891.

Application filed March 8, 1890. Serial No. %8,193. (No model.)

Be it known that I, JAMES Wn'rrrnnonn, a citizen ot the United States,residing at Detroit, in the County of lVayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and usei'ul Improvernents in Store-ServiceApparatus, of which the following is a speeifieation, reference beinghad therein to the aceompanying drawings.

This inventon relates to new and useful inprovementsin store-serviceapparatus; and the inventiou consists, first, in the peeuliarConstruction, arrangement, and combination, with a storerailway, of acash register and indieator adapted to co-operate therewith;

tering apparatus, whereby it is looked from operation while the ear ofthe railway is absent from its station; third, ot the Construction ofthe indieating apparatus, whereby the indieation remains exposed whilethe car is away from its station; fourth, in the construction ot devicestor returning` the indication to zero upon the return of the car; lifth,in the Construction of the eash registering and eonuecting mechanism,whereby the car is locked against operation until the register isoperated; sixth, in the peeuliar e0ustruetion, arrangement, andcombinatiou of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafterdescribed.

In the drawings which aecompanv this speeiication, Figure l is a sideelevation of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a cross-section tlereof on linea; Fig. is a front elevation of the cash-register with the front plateremoved and partly in section. Fig. i is a cross-section en line y y,Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the lett end ot Fig. et with thecasing removed. Fig. G is a vertical longitudinal section through theregister on line .2 in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the looking-barfor the aetuatingeord of the car.

Fig. S is a erossseetion on line 2" 2' in Fig. b.

Fig. 9 shows bar U as the carriage is passing out. Fig. lO is a diagramplan of mystore-service system applied to a number of lines. a

A is the hanger or standard ot a store-railway apparatus Secured to thecehngfio which one end of the wireway B is Secured. C is the terminaltraelc, which in the drawings I have shown as a single strip of metal a,secured upon the track having an incline a' at its outer end. Below is aguide-rail a",having an ineline Z). The wheels of the carriage D aregrooved to run upon the strip a', and a supplemental wheel b' runs uponthe guiderail a". b" is a sliding pusher upon the strip a, adapted to bepropelled by pulling the cord c, which pashes over the pulleys c' and e"and the end attaohed to the sliding pusher, which has suitable butterbloclts, against which buffers upon the car Strike. The sliding pusheris normally retracted by an elastie cord c'. The particular Constructionof this cash-carrier and terminal station is not my invention, and Ihereby disclaiin the same as thus far described. lVhile I have shownthis particular Construction of carrier and terminal station, it is notat all an essential part of my invention, and anyother tyge ofstoreserviee apparatus may be used by simply making the necessarychanges ef the paris Operating in connection with the registeringneehanism. The hanger or standard A forms the support for my easl-registering apparatus which may be of any desired construction, so that'it edoperates with the storeservice apparat-us. I have herein shown anddescribed a cash register which is what I preferably use.

I will first describe the registering and indicating mechanism.

E isa shaft stationarilySecured in suitable fixed supports in the trameof the machine, and upon this shatt are journaled the series ofactuating and indicating wheels E', each of which is provided with thecireunterential groove (Z, in. which is Secured the actuatingcord F. Arecess is forned upon one side of these wheels, in which the coil-springF' is Secured, one end to the shaft E and. the other end to the wheelE', so arranged that the tension of the spring will always tend torotate 9 the wheels 'froni right to left, as shown by arrow in Fig. a.These wheels are also marked upon the face e with the digits and aeipher, and provided with a eireunferential ratchet Gr", one notch 'foreach digit, the spring-pawls G (shown in Figs. 4 and S) engaging Withthe ratchet and holding the wheel in its adjusted position. An apertureG' in the casing (shown in Fig. 1) exhibits one figure at a time, thecipher'being normally eXposed to View. Each wheel E' carries aspring-pawl H, which engages With a ratchet upon the register-ingwheelH', which corresponds withthe ratchet upon the wheel E'. This wheel ismarked to correspond with the figures upon the wheel E'.

H" is a pin upon the side of the wheel H', which strikes the inclineIupon the bell-crank lever I?, pivoted upon the shaft I" and rocks thelever so that the spring-pawl J moves forward one noteh of the'registering-wheel J',"

which is pivoted upon the shaft J". As soon as the pin I-1 reaches thenotch J' in the lever I' the spring K moves the lever to turn the wheelJ' one noteh. The movement of the lever I'is stopped by the set-screwK', by means of which it may be adjusted.

K" is a spring-pawl, which prevents the retractiou of the wheel J Thusit will be seen that each rotation of the wheel I-I' moves the wheel J'one noteh;

While I have described but one group of wheels the parts referred to aresimilar in all three groups, andlike letters refer to like parts in eachgroup. The wheel E' at the right represents' units, the next wheel tothe left tens, and the next hundreds, when used with the decimal system.

The operation o this mechanism to indicate and register the amount shownin Fig. 1 ($9.85) is as follows: The operator draws down first upon theunits or cents cord until the 5 is exposed to View. The wheel E' in thecents group is rotated five notches, carrying with it theregistering-wheel H', and is held in its operated position by the pawlG. Next the tens-wheel is turned until the 8 is exposed to view, ithaving correspondingly moved its registering-wheel, and then thedollars-wheel is turned to 9 by its cord, and the amount is indicated asshown. A stationary dollar-mark and astationary period upon the casingassist in the reading.

I provide means for preventing the proi pelling of the car from thestation until the registration is commenced, and means for un` lookingthe car to pernit its being propelled as soon as the registration iscommcnced, of the following Construction: The pulley or wheel c' Ilocate within the casing of the reg ister, and the cord c I provide withan enlarged hearing or block L, having its upper end tapered and itslower end square, as plainly shown in Fig. 6. This block is guided inits vertical movement by the guide-tubes L'. Below this tube isslidingly secured the looking-bar L' ','having a slot L through whichthe block L can pass freely. iare wings pivotally secured to the 'bar L"and held in position by the springs i', so as to form the slot M,through which the cord can pass, but too small to pernit the passage ofthe block L, and the ape'rture M' of sufficient size to allow the blockto pass freely through; '\Vlen the slot M is beneath the block L, it isevident that the cord for actuating the car cannot be withd rawn, as theblockcould not pass through the slot; but when the aperture M' isbeneath the block the block can freely pass through to allow ofpropelling the car by drawing upon the cord. `To reoiprocate this bar Iconstruct thefollowingmechanism: Narespring-latches which in the initialposition of the registering and indicating wheels rest in a noteh in theperiphery of each of the wheels E' so arranged .that when any wheel. E'has moved one noteh the end of its latch will be lifted out'of the notehand forthe remainder of the rotation will run upon the face of thewheel. The upward notion of this latch carries with it the swinging barN', which is supported by the inclined links N". The bar N' is common toall of the latches. One of the links has a crank-arm O, which engageswith the bar L". A spring O' (see Fig."4) tends to hold the bar firnlyin contact with the latches N. The operation of any indicatingwheelonenotch or more will raise the latch, and with it the bar N', rockingthe arm O and moving the bar L' With the aperture M' be-` neath theguide Q. In this position it is evident the cord may be drawn to propelthe car. As soon as the car is propelled the bar Q', which is upon thecar, is withdrawn and al lows the vertical lever R to be moved by thetension of the spring Q". This lever at. its lower end bears against therock-arm R' upon the shat't R", which carries the spring-pawls R'".These pawls are by this movement thrown into engagement with the ratchetupon the wheels E' and hold them against operation until the return ofthe car. At its end the arm Q' upon the car has a tapered or inclinedportion upon its inner edge, which bears against 'the lever R, movingit, and thus throwng the pawls R out of engagement with the wheels E' aslong as the car is in place. The parts having been operated to registerand indicate any desired amount and the car being propelled, theregisterin g Operating-wheels are returned to normal position bytheincoming of the car by disengaging the pawls G by means of thereleasing-bar S, extending across all of the pawls and engaging with theextension S' thereof. This bar is supported by suitable pivotal arms S"and has an arm 8 which at its outer end is connected to the arm T, whichconnects to the bell-crank lever T', the other arm of which connects tothe tri pping-bar T", extending outside the casing and connecting tothelever U, which at its lower end connects to the bar U' the other endof which is supported by a link U', havinga squared head, against whichthe spring V' acts, tendiug to return the link U' and bar U" to theirnormal position, as shown in Fig. 1. The bar U" projects slightly belowthe bottom of the guide-rail a" and in the path of the guide-wheelb'.The wheel b' on the incoming car strikes the bar U" and swings itupwardly and inwardly swinging IOO IIO

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the lever U, and with it the rod T, depressing the bar S and disengagingthe paWls G, which allows all the parts to return to their normalposition. The registering-wheels are held in their adjusted position bymeans of the pawls V". The outgoing of the car does not operate thetripping mechanism, as the movement of the lever U in the oppositedirection does not impart motion to the rod T, owing to its movement inthe slot V in the rod, as shown in Fig. 9. It will be seen that as soonas the car is shot and the operator releases his hold ot' the cord c itis drawn toits initial position ready for the next operation by thespring c' wthdrawing the block L above the bar L" through the medium ofthe connecting-cord c. Should the spring c'not act promptly, the passageof the block L is permitted through the bar L' by the lateral yieldingof the wings -i, which are pivotally connected to the bar and heldnornallyin position (shown in Fig. 7) by the spring i'. It will thus beseen that the action of the cashregister is dependent upon andco-operates with the cash-carrier apparatus.

A store-service apparatus thus constructed and comprising a cash-carrierway connecting a sending and receiving station and a carrier or car onthat Way and the cash-register constructed and Operating as describedaccomplishes the following results, which are not accomplished by eitherone alone. In many stores where a single cash-carrier lne is used itwould be a simple matter for the clerk and cashier to conspire todefraud the proprietor where the cash-carrier alone were used, but byapplying the cash-register, cooperating with the carrier, the clerk nustnecessarily operate the register before the cash can be sent to thecashier. In thus registering the indication is eXposed to the purchaserand the clerk is thus called upon to indicate i the proper amount of thesales, which is also registered. As soon as the cash is put in thecarrier and the carrier propelled the register is locked against furtheroperation by the clerk. Should the clerk make another sale while the caris absent, he could not, therefore, indicate and register the same untilthe car returned. As soon as the car comes in, the parts are allreturned to their' initial position, the indication to naught, readyforanother operation. The proprietor can at any tine see by inspectingthe registering-wheels the total amount of Sales, a suitable hingedcover being provided for the register.

Another use of my invention, in addition to that previously mentioned,is in use in large stores having a number of lines. A cashregister ateach sending-station accurately and automatically foots up the amount ofcash sent from that station, and at nightthe proprietor can simply addthe total of the amounts registered at the different Stations, and if itcorresponds with the cash account at the cashiefs desk it is evidentthatit must be correct; but if there is a shortage it is evident thatsomething is wrong. To make sure that each amount is registered beforesending forward the cash the operation of the carrier must be dependentupon the prior operation of the register, and the register must belocked during the absence of the car, so that no cash can be sent unlessregistered and none registered unless the car is present to receive thecash.

` The present use of stub-books requires that, in order to check thetotals, the stubs be added. The cash-registers thus placed indicate thesales of each counter each day, and the proprietor can see whichcounters or departments are doing well and which are having small sales.

The advantage of my type of register is that it may be Secured upon thestandard supporting the terminal station of the carrier. The indicatorand registering mechanism is thereby out ot' reach, so that it cannot betampered with.

The operation ot the register by simply drawing upon the cord is sosimple that any one can operate it who can count and pull a string.Having the register above the counter also leaves the counter free ofits encumbrance.

While I show a specific construction of cashcarrier apparatus and aspecific Construction of cash-registering apparatus, I do not desire tolimit myself to such specific construction, as I an aware that there area great many different kinds of cash-carri'ers and many kinds ofcash-registers which may be combined with proper mechanism for causingthen to co-operate in the nanner and for the purpose herein described;nor do I desire to limit myself to the location of the cash-regisister,althoughI deem the end of the way and the standard of the cash-carrierapparatus by far the best location. I know it can be put upon thecounter or even carried by the carrier itself.

hat I claim as my invention is 1. The combinat-ion, with a store-serviceapparatus,of a cash-register and means actuated by the register forcontrolling the operation of the apparatus, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a store-service apparatus, of a cash-registerconnected directly therewith and mechanism actuated by the register forcontrolling the operation of the apparatus, substantially as described.

3. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a way connecting twoStations, a carrier on said way, a cash-register at one of saidStations, and means arranged and constructed to make the operation ofthe carrier dependent on the same, substantially as described.

l. The combiuation of a cash-carrier apparatus, a cash-register, andconnecting mechanism arranged to make the operation of one dependent onthe other, substantially as described.

ICO

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ratus, a cash register and indicator, and connecting mechanism wherebythe indicating nechanism is returned to its initial position, ready foranother indication by the movement of the car, snbstantially asdescribed.

8. The combination of a cash-carrier apparatus, a cash register andindicator, and mechanism whereby the indication is removed upon thereturn of the car, substantially as described.

9. The combinat-ion of a cash-carrier apparatus, a cash register andindicator, and connecting mechanism whereby the indication is exposedduring the travel of the car and is removed upon the return thereof,substantially as described.

10. The combination,with a cash-carrier and a cash register andindicator, of a series of indioating devices,meehanism for Operatingsaid devices, a tripping device common to all of said indicatingdevices, and a connection between said tripping device and the cash-carapparatus, whereby the indication is removed by the movement of thecash-car, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with a cash-car and a cash register and indicator,of a series of indicating-wheels, mechanism for Operating each of saidwheels independently, a tripping device common to all of saidindicatingwheels, and a connection between said tripping device and thecash-car, whereby the indication is removed by the movement of thecash-ear, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with a cash-car and a cash register and indicator,of a series of spring-actuated indicating-wheels, mechanism forOperating each of said wheels independently, a tripping device common toall of said indicating-Wheels, and connecting mechanism whereby thewheels are turned to their initial position by the incoming car,substantially as described.

13. The oombination of a cash-carrier apparatus, a cash-register, a lockfor the registering mechanism, and mechanism for disenga-ging said lockwhen the car is at the station, substantially as described.

14. The combination of a cash-carrier apparatus, a cash-register, a lockfor the registering mechanism, looking said mechanism against operationduring the absence of the car, an arm uponsaid car, and connectingmechanism disengaging said lock upon the return of the car,substantially as described.

15. The conbination of a cash-carrier apparatus, a cash-register, aseries of wheels adapted to register different denominations i ofmonetary value, mechanism for Operating the wheels of each denomination,a pawl to hold said wheels in their operated position, a 'trip common toall the-registering actuating mechanism, tripping mechanism forOperating said trip, operated by the movement of the carrier,

whereby the registering actuating mechanism is reset by the movement ofthe cash-carrier, substantially as' described.

lt. The combination, in a store-service apparatus, of a propelling-cord,a cash-car, a cash-register, a looking device normally locking thepropelling-cord of the car, and mechanism for releasing the cord uponthe operation ot' the cash-registering device, substantial'ly asdescribed,

17. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a cash-carrier anda cash-register', a looking device for the carrier, and mechanismbetween said looking device and the cashregister, whereby said lock isreleased upon the operation of said register, substantially asdescribed.

18. In a store-service apparatus, the conbination of a cash-carrier, acash-register, a looking device for the carrier, and connectingmechanism with each denomination of the cash-register apparatus, wherebyupon any indication of denomination of the cashregister the said look isreleased, substan` tially as described.

19. The combination, in a store-service apparatus, of a cash-carrier anda cash-registering apparatus, of a lock normally holding thecash-carrier apparatus from operation and releasing it upon theregistration of any amount, substantially as described.

20. The combination, in a store-service apparatus comprising acash-carrier and a cashregister, of the locking-bar L, having theapertures M M', the propelling-cord of the carrier, the block L thereon,and connecting mechanism between the bar L' and the registeringmechanism, whereby the cord is normally locked, but is nnlocked upon theoperation of the registering mechanism, substantially as described. t

21, In a 'store-service apparatus, a cashregister and a car normallyheld in an inoperative position by means controlled by the register,substantially as described.

22. In a cash-carrier apparatus, the combination of a cash-indicator anda look for the indicator, and mechanism to release the look bytheoperation of the carrier, substantially as described.

23. In a cash-carrier apparatus, the oom-` IOC I'IO

actuated by the in dicat'or to release the earrier, substantizily asdescribed.

28. The conbination of a cash-carrier apparatus, a cash-register, a lockfor the reg stering mechnisn, and meehanisn for disengaging said lockWhen the carrier apparatus is in position to be operated, snbstantiallyas described.

In testmony whereof I affix my signature,

in presence of two witnesses, this 26th day of February, 1890.

JAMES WHITTEMORE. witnesses:

M. B. O7DOGHERTY, GEO. A. GREGG.

